Roller bearing



ROLLER BMRING Filed Sept. 15 1921 Patented pr. 15, 1924.

PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK WHITNEY, OF HUBBARD WOODS, ILLINOIS.

ROLLER Application filed September To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, FRANK VHITNEY, i citizen of the United States, residing at Hubbard lVoods, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Roller Bearings, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to end thrust and radial load roller bearings, and it has for one of its principal objects the provision of a bearing of this type which shall have a larger capacity for both radial and thrust loads than the bearings of the saine size heretofoie made and sold. It is another obliect of my invention to provide certain iinpig'oved arrangements and devices for taking up lost motion or looseness in the parts of the bearing whereby the rollers are at all times kept in proper contact with the bearing members. Another object is to provide a structure which may be produced readily and cheaply and which may be assembled and disassembled quickly and easily. It is another object of my invention to provide certain retaining means of novel construction for the essential parts of the bearing whereby said parts. after being assemblee, are kept in the proper relationship with each other before the bearing is' placed in the position of use, the bearing, in other words. being a complete unitary structure wlienit leaves the factory. The preferred means by which I have accomplished my several objects are illustrated in the drawings and hereinafter specifically described. That which I believe to be new and desire to cover by this application is set forth in the claims.

In the drawings Fia. 1 is a side view of a bearing embodying my improvements. being partly broken away -for clearness of illustration.

2 is a vert-ical cross section taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig, is a view similar to Fig. 1, but with the outer cylindrical member removed.

Fig. lA is a vertical cross section taken on line 4,4: of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a vertical cross section through a bearing illustrating another form of construction.

Fig. 6 is a face view of a spring washer BEAR-ING.

15, 1921. Serial N0. 500,957.

forming a part of the bearing shown in Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a vertical cross section taken on the line fl-7 of Fig. G upon a reduced scale.

Fig. 8 is a vertical cross section through a modified form of bearing mounted upon a shaft,

Fig. 9 is a face view of the spring washer employed in the bearing of Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 8 but showing still another modified form of construction.

Fig. 11 is a face View of the spring washer of the construction shown in Fig. 10, the same being` partly broken away.

Fig. 12 is a view in perspective of a retaining ring for holding the rollers and their cages on the bearing members.

Referring now to Figs. 1 to 4, and Fig. 12, inclusive, 15 indicates the inner bearing member of my improved construction, the outer face of which is cut or otherwise formed, to provide a plurality of equal sized conical bearing surfaces or raceways 16, which are necessarily offset with respect to each other. as is clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 4. In the construction shown in said figures, the raceways at one end of the bearing sleeve 15 are oppositely inclined as compared with those at the opposite end. Mounted upon the bearing sleeve 15 there are a plurality of cages 17 each provided with a plurality of roller elements of any suitable type, preferably disk rollers 18, the arrangement being such that the rollers are held in spaced relation to each other so :is

to be capable of rotation within the cages.

the rollers being supported in contact with the bearing member 15. The cages act as guides for the disk rollers 18 to keep the same in alignment. The rollers and cages are held in position by means of rings 19 having flanges 119 (Fig. 12) which are formed with cuts 219 or may be crimped so as to be expansible. the rings seating in suitable grooves 319 in the outer face of the bearing sleeve 15. These retaining rings have smooth inner faces to bea-1` against the roller cages and as their flanges 119 eX- pand when the rings are forced on bearing members 15 they can not be removed without disassembling the entire bearing.

The outer bearing member against which the outer faces of the rollers 18 Contact is in the form oiE an open ring or sleeve .20 formed of sheet metal and preferably rolled or spun for providing raeevvays 2l on its inner face, such raoevvays 21 being disposed in parallelism With the racevvays 16 ot the inner bearing member 15. As shown at 22 in Fig. 2, the sleeve is open along a diagonal line so as to provide that the rollers of the several series do not cross the line ot severance of bearing` member 2O at the same time. So long as five rollers have a firm support at all times While the sixth roller is passing the break, the pressure of the sixth roller at the break is relieved and undue Wear at this point prevented. As a precaution for preventing lateral movement of one end of the open ring with respect to the other end, l have reversed the direction of the cut at one side as sl'ioivn at 23 in Fig. 2. The sleeve 2l, it will be understood. may be manufactured in eylindieal form and severed along line 227 23, or a flat piece of metal with its ends suitably cut may he bent to the desired shape.

lll/lith thel several Cages li" mounted upon the .inner hearing` sleeve l5 as shoivn in litigi.. 4l. the partially assembled hearing is inserted within the sleeve 2O shown in said Fig. l. rlhe outer bearingl sleeve 2O is then pressed doivn into snug' Contact with the disk rollers 18. serving to brine the ends ot the :ingV 2O into Contact as shown in Fig. 2. whereupon the hearing` thus assembled can be inserted Within an endless retaining' sleeve The assernl'iled bearing may he seeured in the sleeve 2li in any si'litable manner. For .1;ample. sleeve 20 ma;7 he 'termed .vith a pair or pairs of inivardl)7 hent oppositelv disposed tongues 25 ivhieh engage with the offsets oit bearing member 20 provided when the raceivays are termed. The retaining; sleeve may constitute a permanent part ot the bearing. or ma)7 be used simpl;T to hold the bea-ring sleeves and rollirs in assembled relation until the bearingv is put in the place Where it is to be used. there the retainer is used only temporarilv. it may be aligned With the housing` into Whirh the heari...ji .is to be placed. and the ot' thc bearing. the sleeves l5. 20 and the rollers and their Cages Vtoreed from the retainer into the housing; (alter hendinp; un o e ol the tongues 25) without disturbi l the assembled relation oli the other parts ol the bearing?.

ln the construction shown in ll1 igs. 6 and 7. the arrangement is quite similar to that already deseribed. but provision is made 'for takingv up anyY lost motion. due to 'wear or other causes. between the rollers and the members against which thei7 bear; and the device employed for this purpose has the important advantage of simplicity and compactness. Instead of the inner sleeve l5 ol' the other Construction l employ a cylindrical sleeve 26 on which are arranged ivo hearing n'iembers 27, 2T, formed with conical bearing surfaces. rhese hearing` surlfaees and the bearing` suritares on the outer member 2G" have a slant giving the rollers of each set an inclination outv'ardlv and away Ytrom the rollers oit the other Between the members 27, 2l' is interposed an annular spring member 2S 'formed with undulations.y nadialli as shown in Fig. 'i'. there being prefeiahl)Y six ol: these bends or undulations which prei' yrably extend. across the annular memher trom its inner to its outer edge so as to provide three otlisets on nach side ol the member. This meniber 28 is compressed and to a certain extent or Wholli7 flattened outy when the bearing;- is assembled` Its expansion and thrust against hearing' menihers 27 taires up an'v looseness developed ou the bca o Athrough Wear olV the parts.

In the construction shown in tl and tl. the inner sleeve 15b is shoivn mounted upon a shaft and the outer sleeve 2li" abutted against an eleinent indicated hy dotted line 29'). Upon the threaded end or the shaft 29 there is a nut S0 and a spring: ivasher 3l, is interposed between the nut 30 and the adjacent end ot the inner hearing member l5". As shown in Fig. 9, the spring 'z sher 3l is provided with lugs 32 on its inner eden which are bent to one side and turned outwardlyT sligrhlljvv so to have a spring' grip upon the Cut-under edge oi the sleeve ll ln Fit-gz'. 8. the nut ill) is shown in the course o1"- api'ilieation betere the Washer 3l has been thittened lijf the complete tighteniifrer ot thel nut. As will he understood.I with the nut Il() tightened so as to flatten the nf'asher 3l. there will he a lontant tendent-,57 to push the inner hearingr member l5" toivard the right in said figure so as to compensate .tor Wear on the hearing. serving` to keep the bearing coustantlv in properlv adjusted condition.

Aln the construction shown in Figs. l!) and l1. a Washer .f il is substituted in place of the Washer 3l. the Washer 33 being' provided ivith lugs fil-l on its outer edge in lieu of the lugs 32 on the inner oder. The lugs .fi/.l are bent over and turned inwardly to a slight degree so as to have a spring engagement ivith the beveled outer tace ol the inne/i.I bearingv sleeve 15b.

As ivill be seen hv au examination ot Fig. 9. the Washer 3l is provided with onli7 tivo high points on each tace. While the Washer shoivn in Fig. 1l is provided with three hin'h points on each lare. lt Will be understood that l do not Wish to limit mvself in respect to the detailed form ot the spring Washers except as is hereinafter speoitieallv Claimed.

While I prefer to secure the open sleeves Within the retaining sleeves by turning down the edges ot the retaining sleeves as is illustrated in Figs. 5,18 and l0, and particularly in the 'term ot structure there shown in which a spring Washer is employed. it will be understood that l do not restrict myseltl to that expedient except as hereinafter specilically claimed,

By making the outer bearing member in the term of an open annulus, that is, an annulus severed in the direction, generally, of its length, that is to say in the direction ot the axis of the bearing and forming such member with the required number ot conical bearing surfaces, I provide a bearing the overall diameter of which is relatively small in comparison to its capacity for sustaining radial loads and end thrusts. With the outer bearing member in this form, it may be very economically manufactured and the parts of the bearing easily and quickly assembled. The annular spring members in the arrangements shown in Figs. 5 to 10 inclusive, provide eXpedients for take up of the parts oit the bearings Which are simple, economical and involve little or no increase in the dimensions of the bearing. This latter consideration is of first rate importance, as it is very desirable that a bearing of this sort be as small and compact as is possible Without sacrifice of strength and load resisting capacity It Will be understood that modilications ot various kinds may be made in the constructions and arrangement Without departing from the spirit of my invention. For example, I have shown on the drawings the roller elements `in the forni ot cylindrical discs, Whereas equivalent antifriction roller elements of any other suitable form may be employed instead ot those shown. I do not, therefore, Wish to be restricted to the particular constructions, arrangements and devices shown and described, except as the same are specilically claimed hereinafter. In referring to the raceivays or bearing surfaces as conical, l have reference to their general inclination with relation to the axis of the bearing. The exact configuration of those surfaces will depend upon the configuration of the roller elements. The conesl or race- Ways on each ot the bearing elements are speciiied as of equal size. This term does not have reference to the relative Widths of the bearing surtaces but to the fact that the cones are formed to accommodate rollers of equal diameter.

l claim:

1. A thrust and radial load bearing, comprising inner and outer bearing members and interposed roller elements, the bearing members being each provided with a plurality ot equal sized conical racei-vays which, in the case ot one of said members, are formed integral therewith, the outer of said members being formed so that it can be opened tor assembly oi the parts ot the bear- ;2. A thrust and radial load bearing, coinprising inner and outer bearing members and interposed roller elements, the bearing members being each provided with a plurality of equal sized conical raceivays which, in the case ot one oit said members, are formed integral therewith` said bearing member being open in the direction ot the axis of the bearing to permit assembly therewith ot the roller element and other bear' element.

8. A thrust and radial load bearing, comprising inner and outer bearing members and interposed roller elements, the hearing members being each provided With a plurality et equal sized conical raceivays, one ot said members consisting ot a single piece of metal having said raceu'ays formed integrally therein and the other being open in the direction of the axis or" the bearing to permit assembly of the parts or" the bearing.

el. A thrust and radial load bearing, comprising inner and outer bearing members and interposed roller elements, the bearing members being each provided With a plurality ot equal sized conical raceways, one of said members consisting of a single piece of metal adapted to be bent to an annular shape and having said racei'vays formed integrally therein.

5. A thrust and radial load bearing, comprising inner and outer bearing members and interposed roller elements, the bearing members being each provided with a plu- -rality ot equal sized conical raceu'ays, one

of said members consisting ot a single piece of metal having said raceivays formed integrally therein, bent to a shape approximating annular shape and adapted to be :further bent into the torni or" an annulus.

6. A thrust and radial load bearing, comprising in combination an inner bearing member formed With a plurality of offset raceivays, a plurality of roller elements, means for assembling the roller elements and the inner member as a single structural unit, and an outer bearing member formed so that the inner bearing member and roller elements may be inserted into the same When assembled as a unit as aforesaid.

7. A. thrust and radial load bearing, comprising inner and outer bearing members and interposed roller elements, the bearing members being each formed With a plurality ot integral conical raceivays of equal size and the outer member being open in the general direction ot the axis of the bearing to permit assembly oit the parts ot the bearing.

8. A thrust and radial load bearing, comprising inner and outer bearing members and interposed roller elements, the bearing members being each formed With a plurality of integral conical raceways of equal size, and the outer member consisting of a single piece of metal having a shape approximately annular but with its meeting edges spread apart and adapted to be bent to the torri ot an annulus when the bearingT is assembled.

9. A thrustl and radial load bearing, comprising in combination an inner bearing,r member formed with a plurality et ollset raceivays, a plurality of roller elements, cages for holding said roller elements in annular series, means tor retaining said cages on the inner bearing member and outer bearing member formed so that the inner bearing member, roller elements and cages may be inserted into the same as a unit.

10. A thrust and radial load bearing, comprising inner and outer bearing members and interposed roller elements, the bearing members being each provided with a plurality oi equal sized conical raceways which, in the ease ol the outer member, are formed integrally therewith, said outer bearing member being open in the direction of the aXis of the bearing to permit assembly therewith of the roller elements and inner bearing member.

l1. A thrust and radial load bearing, comprising inner and outer bearing members and interposed roller elements, the outer bearing member consisting of a single piece of metal bendable to an annular shape with a plurality of conical raceways formed integrally therein.

l2. A thrust and radial load bearing, comprising; inner and outer bearing members each having a plurality ot conical bearing faces and interposed roller elements, the outer bearing member consisting of a single piece of metal having a shape approximately annular but with its meeting edges spread apart and adapted to be bent to the form of a true annulus when the bearing: is assembled.

13, A thrust and radial load bearing, comprising inner and outer bearing members and interposed roller elements, the bearing7 members being each provided with a plurality of equal sized conical raceways, the inner bearing member comprising an endless annulus and the outer member oi an open annulus.

154. A thrust and radial load bearing, comprisingV inner and outer bearingr members each having a plurality of integrally formed equal sized conical. raceways, the inner member comprising an endless aunulus and the outer member of an open aunulus.

l5. A thrust and radial load bearing?, comprising, in combination, an inner bearingr member provided with a plurality of offset parallel conical raceways, an outer bearing member having correspondingly formed raceways, and a plurality oit roller elements interposed between said bearing members, said outer member consisting of a piece ot metal bendable to annular term.

i6. A thrust and radial load bearing, comprising, in combination, an inner bearine; member provided with` a plurality of set parallel conical raceivays, an outer beariug` member having` correspondingly formed raceways, a plurality ot roller elements interposed between said bearing members, said outer member consisting of a piece ot metal `bendable to annular term, and retaining means for holding the parts t the bearing in assembled position.

17. A thrust and radial load bearing, comprising, in combination7 an .inner bearing; member proifided with a plurality oi. offset parallel conical. receive-ys, an outer bearing member having correspondingly 'formed raceways, a plurality of roller elements interposed between said bearing; members, said outer member consisting of a piece of metal bendable to annular' term, and an endless annular retaining device surrounding said outer bearing member.

18. A thrust and radial load bearing, comprising; inner and outer bearingr members and interposed roller elements, the bearing members being each provided with a plurality ot equal sized conical raceways which, in the case ot the outer member, are formed integrally therewith. said outer bearing member being open in the direction oct the axis of the bearing to permit assembly therewith ot the roller elen'ients and inner bearing member, and an annular retaining member enclosing the aforesaid parts.

19. A thrust and radial. load bearing, comprising inner and outer bearing members and interposed roller elements, the outer bearing member consisting ot a' single piece of metal bendable to an annular shape with a plurality of conical raceways .termed integrally therein, and an annular retaining;r member enclosing the aforesaid parts.

20. A thrust and radial load bearing, comprising inner and outer bearing;r members each formed with a plurality of bearing surfaces and interposed roller elements, the out er bearing member consisting ot a single piece oi" metal having a shape approXimately annular but with its meeting' edges spread apart and adapted to be bent to the form ot a true annulus when the bearing; is assembled, and an annular retainingY member enclosing the aforesaid parts.

9,1. A bearing member tor a thrust and radial load bearing consisting of a piece of sheet metal formed with a series of parallel, circumferential off-sets providing between them a series of conical bearing surfaces.

22. A bearing member for a thrust and radial load bearing consisting of a piece of sheet metal in the form of an open annulus formed with a series of parallel off sets providing between them a series of conical bearing surfaces.

23. A bearing member vfor a thrust and radial load bearing constituted of a. piece of sheet metal formed with a series of parallel circumferential offsets providing bet-Ween them a series of bearing surfaces.

24. A bearing member for a thrust and radial load bearing consisting of a piece of sheet metal in the form of an open annulu's formedy With a series ofV parallel offsets providing between them a series of bearing sur faces.

25. A thrust and radial load bearing comprising inner and outer bearing members and interposed roller elements, the bearing members being provided each with a plurality of offset conical raceways and the outer member consisting of an open annulus with the raceWays formed integrally therein.

26. A thrust and radial load bearing comprising, in combination, an inner bearing member having a plurality of offset bearing surfaces, an outer bearing member in the form of an open annulus having bearing surfaces correspondingly formed, and a plura-lity of series of roller elements arranged between the opposedv surfaces on saidbearing members, respectively.

27. A thrust and radial load bearing comprising, in combination, an inner bearing member having a plurality of offset bearing surfaces, an outer bearing member in the form of an open annulus'having bearing surfaces correspondingly formed, a pluralityof series of roller elements arranged between the opposed surfaces on said bearing members respectively, and an annular retaining member enclosing the aforesaid parts.

28. A thrust and radial load bearing comprising in combination, an inner bearing member having a plurality of thrust and radial bearing surfaces, an outer bearing member in the vform of an open annulus having bearing surfaces correspondingly formed, and a plurality of series of roller elements arrangedbetvveen the opposed surfaces on said bearing members, respectively, one of said members being formed With a groove, and an eXpansible ring in said groove to retain the roller elements.

Y 29. A thrust and radial load bearing comprising, in combination, an inner bearing member having a plurality of thrust and radial bearing surfaces, an outer bearing member in the form of an open annulus havingr bearing surfaces correspondingly formed, a plurality of series of roller elements arranged between the opposed surfaces on said bearing members respectively, the inner member being formed With grooves at opposite ends,

and eXpansible rings in said grooves to retain the roller elements in place.

30. A thrust and radial load bearing comprising in combination an inner bearing element having a plurality of bearing surfaces,

those on one side of the bearing being oppositely inclined to those at the other side, an outer bearing element in the form of an open annulus having bearing surfaces correspondingly formed, and a plurality of series of roller elements arranged between the opposed surfaces on said bearing members respectively.

31. A thrust and radial load bearing comprising, in combination, an endless inner bearing member, an outer bearing member in the form of an open annulus, said bearing members being formed each with a plurality of racevvays, the raceways on one side of the bearing being oppositely inclined to those on the other side, and tivo sets of interposed roller elements having axes inclined to correspond to the inclination of said raceWays respectively.

32. A thrust and radial load bearing comprising, in combination, an endless inner bearing member, an outer bearing member in the form of an open annulus, said bearing members being formed each With a plurality of raceways, the raceivays on one side of the bearing being oppositely inclined to those on the other side, tivo sets of interposed roller elements having axes inclined to correspond to the inclination of said race- Ways respectively, and means for retaining the aforesaid parts of the bearing in assembled position.

33. In a thrust and radial load bearing, the combination of inner and outer bearing members each formed with al plurality of bearing surfaces, a plurality of interposed roller elements, one of said bearing members being movable in the direction of the axis of the bearing, and an annular spring element having lateral undulatory bends bearing under stress against the end of the movable element to maintain the parts of the bearing in close contact.

34. In a thrust and radial load bearing, the combination of inner and outer bearing members each formed With a plurality of offset conical bearing surfaces, a plurality of interposed roller elements, one of said bearing members being movable in the direction of the axis of the bearing, and an annular spring element having offsets adapted to be flattened against the movable member when the bearing is assembled`to maintain the parts thereof in proper contact.

35. In a thrust and radial load bearing, the combination of inner and outer bearing members each formed with a plurality of bearing surfaces, a plurality of interposed roller elements, the inner bearing member being movable in the direction of the axis oi the bearing, and a spring element adapted to bear under stress at a number of equally spaced points against the end of said movable element to maintain the parts of the iiearing in close contact.

36. In a thrust and radial load bearing, the combination of inner and outer bearing members each formed with a plurality of bearing surfaces, a plurality of interposed roller elements, one of said bearing members being movable in the direction of the axis of the bearing, an annular spring element having lateral nndulatory bends bearing against the end of the movable element to maintain the parts of the bearing in close contact, said spring element being provided with means for attaching it to said movable bearing member.

37. In a thrust and radial load bearing, the combination ofil tWo inner bearing members each formed with offset conical bearing surfaces, those on one member being oppositely inclined with respect to those on the other, an outer bearing member provided with correspondingly formed surfaces, interposed roller elements, and an annular spring element formed with undulatory bends adapted to be flattened between the inner bearing members When the bearing is assembled.

38. In a thrust and radial load bearing, the combination of inner and outer bearing members, each formed With a plurality of offset conical bearing surfaces, and a plurality of interposed roller elements, the outer bearing element consisting of an open annulus, the abutting ends of which are formed on a line oblique to said bearing surface.

39. A thrust and radial load bearing comprising, in combination, two inner bearing members, each formed with a plurality of separate conical raceways of the same size, an annular member on which said bearing members are mounted, an outer bearing member in the form of an open annulus formed With a plurality of separate conical raceways of the same size corresponding to the raceivays on the inner members, a plurality of series of interposed roller elements, an annular retaining member enclosing the aforesaid parts, and an annular spring element compressed between said inner bea-ring members, for the purpose described.

40. A thrust and radial load bearing, comprising in combination an inner bearing member having a plurality of offset bearing surfaces, an outer bearing member in the form of an open annulus having bearing surfaces correspondingly formed and a plurality of annular roller cages provided With rollers, and adapted to revolve between said bering members independently of each ot er.

41. In combination with the inner and outer bearing members and roller elements of a thrust and radial load bearing, an endless annular talre-up member of spring metal formed With undulations and adapted to be engaged and flattened to a greater or less extent when assembled with the other parts of the bearing so as to hold the roller elements and bearing members in proper contact with each other and tal'ie up lost motion.

42. In a thrust and radial oad bearing, the combination of roller elements and inner and outer bearing members, one of said members being formed With a groove, and an endless retaining ring for holding the roller elements in place on said last named member having a projecting spring portion which is bent When the retaining ring is put into place and snaps into and is held permanently in said groove.

43. In a thrust and radial load bearing, the combination with roller elements and inner and outer bearing members, one of which is formed With a groove, and an endless retaining ring for holding the roller elements in place on said last named member having, at one edge, an expansible cir cumferential flange adapted to snap into and be held permanently in said roove When the retaining ring is put in p ace.

44. In a thrust and radial load bearing, the combination With the roller elements and outer and inner bearing members, the latter formed with a groove, of an endless retaining ring for the roller elements provided vvith an expansible inner edge Which snaps into the groove in the inner bearing member when the retaining ring is put in place. w

45. In a thrust and radial load bearing, the combination with. roller elements and outer' and inner bearing members, one of which is formed With a circumferential groove, and an endless retaining ring for the roller elements formed with an eXpansible circumferential flange at one ed e adapted to snap into and be permanenty held in the groove in the bearing member When the retaining ring is put into place.

46. In a bearing, the combination of an inner bearing member, an outer bearing member in the form of an open annulus compressible and of circular configuration, and formed with an exterior shoulder, and an endless retaining sleeve to enclose the outer bearing member formed with a spring projection to engage said shoulder to retain the parts: in assembled position.

47. In a bearing, the combination of an inner bearing member, an outer bearing member in the form of an open annulus, compressible to circular configuration, and formed with an exterior shoulder, and an endless retaining sleeve to enclose the outer bearing member formed with an inwardly offset spring finger to engage said shoulder and retain the parte in assembled position.

48. In a bearing, the combination ot an inner bearing member formed With a. pluridity of i'aceiveys ol'fset, with respect to each other, an outer bearing member in the 'form of an open annuius and formed with circumferential offsets providing on the inner surface of the member raceways corresponding to the raceways on the inner bearing member, and on the outside of the member with shoumers, and an endless retaining sleeve surrounding the outer bearing meni- 1eer formed with an outwardly bent spring tongue to engage one of said Shoulders.

FRANK WHITNEY. 

